Patio Brunch at Buena Vida

Buena Vida is a tapas restaurant between the Beltline and O4W © Anna Lanfreschi

Not many things can compete with eating brunch on a lovely patio on a sunny Sunday. Buena Vida in Old Fourth Ward is the perfect restaurant to do just that.

Buena Vida’s beautiful outdoor patio © Anna Lanfreschi

Buena Vida’s interior is gorgeous © Anna Lanfreschi

The Spanish tapas restaurant is located right off the Beltline, and its expansive outdoor patio overlooks the Historic Old Fourth Ward Park.

There’s lots of the shade and the tables are well-spaced for social distancing. (The interior is also beautifully designed, but I’m waiting for a Covid vaccine before dining indoors). The whole place has calming, beachy vibes that make you want to reach for a refreshing cocktail and nosh on delicious small plates.

And Buena Vida’s brunch menu is chock-full of them. Think patatas bravas, pan con tomate, and croquetas – these tapas dishes are a great way to start your meal. But the menu also features more traditional brunch entrées with a Spanish twist, such as flan French toast, gambas and grits, or steak & huevos. Both sections of the menu have several clearly marked vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free items, should that be up your alley.  

Seasonal brunch salad topped with a poached egg; the Valencia spritz at Buena Vida ©Anna Lanfreschi

If you’d like to start with a cocktail, try the Valencia Spritz – it is delectable and not too sweet. There are also more classic brunch drinks, like bloody Mary and mimosa.

Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am – 4 pm. Buena Vida also serves dinner (obviously) 5-10 pm Tuesday through Saturday, and until 9 pm on Sundays. And their dinner menu is certainly worth checking out, but now that the weather is finally starting to cooperate, I’m all about enjoying the great outdoors by drinking on a dreamy patio!

Regardless of when you go, be sure to make a reservation for Buena Vida on Resy. And let me know what you think of this restaurant – send me a DM on Instagram. I hope you enjoy!

Anna Lanfreschi is a digital content creator and strategist based in Atlanta. She posts about food and travel on her blog, AnnaFeasts, and on Instagram @AnnaFeasts. 

FASHIONADO

The Sperry Sock Debate - With or without socks?

When sailor and inventor Paul Sperry created the first non-slip boat shoe in 1935, he inadvertently launched one of the most enduring debates about personal style in the history of fashion: Do you wear boat shoes with or without socks?

Very few style statements evoke such a polarized response.  John Legend, Sperry's Global Brand Ambassador, threw down the style gauntlet recently, stepping out in his cropped trousers and boat shoes asserting his bare ankles.  "It depends on the cut and fit of your pants, and how cool you are," he says of his sockless style.

Retailer J. Crew's men's style team shows Sperry boat shoes worn with their playfully patterned socks, while author of the New York Times bestseller Men and Style, David Coggins, prefers the sockless look.  "We can't have our feet shackled with grotesque tube socks, corseted and constrained," he says. "Go forth with a liberated ankle!" 

For those who want to wear socks with boat shoes, Brian Davis, owner of Wooden Sleepers, a New York based vintage American menswear brand, online store, and showroom sets some guidelines. "First things first - no 'fun socks.' This is not a time for stripes, argyles, or novelties. Grab a crisp pair of white cotton socks and wear with your favorite chino shorts (cut above the knee!) and pair with a worn-in polo, rumpled oxford cloth shirt, or breezy patch madras.  For a cooler day, substitute the shorts with a pair of chinos (not too slim, not too baggy) or a lighter wash denim like a broken in 501, and a vintage military shirt, cotton sweater, or chore coat," he instructs.

Others, like menswear editor and owner of the sock brand Bombas, Randy Goldberg, find a happy compromise in the no-show sock, cut low especially to be worn with boat shoes, without being seen. "Once the no-show sock is inside your Sperrys, it will disappear completely, giving you the advantage of stealth comfort. Sockless looks, sock feels. Best of both worlds," he says.

Elizabeth Drori, Sperry Chief Marketing Officer, strikes a happy medium. "The Sperry Authentic Original boat shoe is a timeless classic. Socks or no socks, with cuffed jeans or a skirt, wear them in a way that expresses your personal style."

Where do you stand? 

FASHIONADO

Saks Fifth Avenue Unveils Here for the Future Spring Campaign Starring Tiffany Haddish and Maluma

Saks Fifth Avenue unveiled its Spring campaign, Here for the Future, starring comedian, actress and producer, Tiffany Haddish and global Latin music idol, Maluma. The 360-degree campaign celebrates forward-looking, innovative designers, artists and activists that are shaping the future of their industries and who Saks believes are creating the future. Here for the Future underscores the luxury retailer's focus on evolving for the future to continue delivering the best in fashion and beauty through a personalized and seamless experience.

"Saks is committed to using our voice to engage with our customers in meaningful and authentic ways," noted Emily Essner, Chief Marketing Officer, Saks Fifth Avenue. "As an arbiter of fashion, culture and lifestyle, Saks strives to elevate timely and relevant topics that are of interest to our customers. Here for the Future reflects the important issues impacting our world today and our focus on championing voices who are using their creativity and passion to help secure a bright future for us all."

Here for the Future spotlights an array of designers who push boundaries and deliver unique points of view through their collections, including A-COLD-WALL*, BruceGlen, Busayo, Christopher John Rogers, Farm Rio, Kimberly Goldson, Reese Cooper and Tove.

Saks' women's Spring 2021 Fashion Book includes the Saks It List, a forecast of the season's must-have trends, such as easy breezy dresses, statement earrings and knit dressing. Similarly, the men's Spring 2021 Style Book features Need Now, with trends like loungewear, high-top sneakers and sport luxe.

"As a fashion authority, Saks is focused on delivering the most distinctive and powerful luxury assortment for our customers," said Tracy Margolies, Chief Merchant, Saks Fifth Avenue.

"Our customers look to us for inspiration and to provide the best and latest in fashion. This season provides us with an amazing opportunity to use our platform to bring emerging designers to the forefront, so they can continue to pave the way for the future of luxury fashion."

The campaign, which can be found across Saks print and digital channels, is also featured in the iconic Fifth Avenue windows of the Saks New York flagship. The women's and men's Spring Books can be found in Saks stores or online at saks.com/c/content/catalogs.

FASHIONADO

Grana: Your new go-to spot for pizza and meatballs

Grana is an Italian restaurant in Midtown Atlanta known for pizza and meatballs © Anna Lanfreschi

Handmade pizza, from-scratch pasta, meatball flights, and make-your-own cannoli. These are just a few of the authentic Italian dishes you can expect from Grana.

Grana doesn’t just serve any Italian food: The Morningside restaurant specializes in true Neapolitan cuisine. If you’ve ever been to Naples, Italy, or met anyone from Naples, you will have undoubtedly heard that Neapolitan food is the best kind of Italian food. Afterall, Naples is the birthplace of pizza… and every Neapolitan dish, from antipasti to desert, tastes soulful, soothing, and oh-so-satisfying.

 And there’s no better person in Atlanta to bring the robust flavors of southern Italy to our city than Chef Pat Pascarella, who helms Grana’s kitchen (as well as White Bull in Decatur). Pascarella grew up tasting and cooking with the Italian matriarchs of his family, and you’ll see nods to his family recipes throughout Grana’s menu.

 Grana is known for its meatballs, and you’ll see both mom’s and grandma’s polpettes on the menu. Best not to choose through, and simply try one of each with the meatball tasting, which is a flight of all six meatballs on the menu and makes for a hearty start to your meal.

Crispy Brussels sprouts (R) and the meatball flight (L) at Grana © Anna Lanfreschi

Before you move onto the pizzas and the pastas, get your veggies in. There are several options on the antipasti menu section, and the crispy Brussels sprouts with truffle honey and ricotta are divine.

Now, for the delicious carbs… you really can’t go wrong with any of the pizzas or pastas at Grana! The truffle pizza is a memorable option because it comes with three types of cheese, including burrata (mozzarella’s fancier cousin), and is topped with black truffle sauce.

The truffle pizza at Grana © Anna Lanfreschi

Regardless of your main entrée selection, definitely, absolutely, categorically save room for dessert. There’s really only one item on the menu – cannoli – but your options are limitless because you get to fully customize your sweet treat. You can choose the type of ricotta it’s filled with (yes, there is more than one choice!), the various toppings to add to each side, and whether to top it with chocolate. Hands down, these are the best cannoli I’ve had in Atlanta!

Make-your-own cannoli (R); Grana’s rooftop patio (L) © Anna Lanfreschi

Grana is open for happy hour and dinner nightly, and also serves brunch on the weekends. When the weather is nice, do check out their expansive rooftop patio, especially during happy hour. Reservations are not required, but highly recommended.

Anna Lanfreschi is a digital content creator and strategist based in Atlanta. She posts about food and travel on her blog, AnnaFeasts, and on Instagram @AnnaFeasts. 

FASHIONADO

Internationally Acclaimed 'Immersive Van Gogh' Exhibit To Make Its Mark In The Heart Of Los Angeles

Lighthouse Immersive and Impact Museums, the catalysts of the mesmerizing digital art space, brings its worldwide sensation, Immersive Van Gogh, to the heart of L.A. for the first time ever! The visually-striking exhibition encourages guests to experience the awe-inspiring works of post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh through 500,000 cubic feet of immersive projections, 60,600 frames of video and 90,000,000 pixels. The Los Angeles site will be the company's fourth location, following the successful on-going exhibits in Toronto, CAN, San Francisco, and Chicago. Pre-sale tickets will be available for purchase Wednesday, February 10th at https://immersivevangogh.com for the exhibition's opening on Thursday, May 27, 2021. Public sale starts on February 13th.

Following a sold-out run in Toronto, Immersive Van Gogh will be making its mark at a secret location, soon to be announced. The exhibit is a strikingly spectacular digital art exhibition that invites audiences to "step inside" the legendary works of post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh, evoking his highly emotional and chaotic inner consciousness through art, light, music, movement, and imagination. Featuring stunning towering projections that illuminate the mind of the artistic genius, the exhibition will feature a curated selection of images from Van Gogh's 2,000+ lifetime catalog of masterpieces, including Mangeurs de Pommes de Terre (The Potato Eaters, 1885), Nuit étoilée (Starry Night, 1889), Les Tournesols (Sunflowers, 1888), and La Chambre à coucher (The Bedroom, 1889). Paintings will be presented as to how the artist first saw the scenes, based on an active life and moving landscapes turned into sharp yet sweeping brush strokes.

The hour-long, timed-entry, walk-through experience is designed with health and safety as a priority. Capacity will be limited in accordance with the City of Los Angeles' safety protocols.  Additional safety precautions include touchless ticket-taking, temperature checks upon arrival, hand sanitizer stations, social distancing markers throughout the venue, and digitally projected social distancing circles on the gallery floors to ensure appropriate spacing. All guests must wear a face covering at all times during their visit. 

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Designed by Creative Director and Italian film producer Massimiliano Siccardi, Immersive Van Gogh contains original, mood-setting music by Italian multimedia composer Luca Longobardi and Vittorio Guidotti as the Art Director. Siccardi immersive productions in Paris have been seen by over 2 million visitors and were featured on the Netflix TV show "Emily in Paris," episode 5.

"We've created a unique and enthralling production that functions safely during this pandemic," says Co-Producer, Svetlana Dvoretsky. "Over 200,000 guests have seen Immersive Van Gogh in small, socially-distanced safe groups. It is an honor to bring the arts back into peoples' lives during these times," adds Co-Producer, Corey Ross.

"Despite being unknown throughout his life, Van Gogh's artwork has created a lasting impact through its emotional richness and simple beauty," said Massimiliano Siccardi, Immersive Van Gogh designer. "Both myself and Luca Longobardi are very excited to visit Los Angeles and once again bring Van Gogh's legacy to life in a way that is unique to the city."

Immersive Van Gogh has already entertained more than 200,000 guests since its North American debut last July, receiving rave reviews from critics worldwide. The Toronto Sun declared it "intense and emotional, cathartic and liberating." Debra Yeo of the Toronto Star stated, "I wondered: could projections of paintings on walls and floors be thrilling? The answer is 'yes.'" Called "dazzling" by Lonely Planet and a "blockbuster digital experience that has taken the art world by storm" by Artnet News, it was summed up by CTV's as "a completely new way of encountering art."

For more information about Immersive Van Gogh, visit https://immersivevangogh.com/ or call 844-307-4644.

FASHIONADO

Fifth Anniversary Blue Jacket Fashion Show Featuring Billy Porter, André Leon Talley and More Goes Virtual

Billy Porter wearing Thom Browne at the Blue Jacket 2019 runway show during NYFW.

The fifth annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show in support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation will be held virtually—and with a newly personal approach—at 7:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 4, 2021, which is also World Cancer Day. Janssen Oncology, part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, will return as the official healthcare sponsor of the event, which helps raise awareness about the devastation of prostate cancer and the importance of screening and early detection, as well as treatment options across the disease continuum.

The event will again unite the fashion, entertainment, healthcare and media worlds to openly discuss prostate cancer, with a new emphasis on racial disparities and underserved communities—and with the models' individual homes and personal spaces standing in for a shared runway. The behind-the-scenes glimpses into participants' personal lives will hope to inspire viewers to take charge of one's own health and treatment.

The program will feature virtual one-on-one discussions with leading celebrities and fashion, medical and research experts, and conclude with a socially distant version of the initiative's traditional Blue Jacket runway show.

Event participants include fashion industry icon André Leon Talley, actors Billy Porter, Mario Cantone and Dominic Fumusa, TV personalities Mike Woods, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Don Lemon and Bill Nye, and celebrity stylist Ty-Ron Mayes. Top fashion designers including Michael Kors, Thom Browne, Stephen F, Duckie Brown, Nick Graham, Ben Sherman, Tommy Hilfiger, Bruno Magli and Michael Strahan and Joseph Abboud for Men's Wearhouse will reimagine the traditional "blue jacket" that participants will then model in their own unique ways.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind lung cancer. Approximately one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point during their lifetime. Risk factors for prostate cancer include increasing age, African ancestry, family history of the disease, certain inherited genetic conditions, as well as other factors (e.g., diet, chemical exposure, smoking). Men should talk to their doctors about prostate cancer screening options starting at age 50, or 40 if in a high-risk group.

"Janssen Oncology is thrilled to be a part of the Blue Jacket Fashion Show once again to raise awareness of prostate cancer. This year, we are especially proud to help shift the focus to reflect patients most impacted," says Rodney Gillespie, VP of Sales & Marketing at Janssen Oncology, and himself a participant in the event. "Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Black men, who are also twice as likely to die from the disease as white men. Janssen Oncology is committed to raising awareness of the disproportionate impact of prostate cancer in Black communities as we work to eliminate health inequities for those living with and impacted by prostate cancer."

"As we discover how genes work in prostate cancer in order to detect it far earlier and treat it far more precisely, we accelerate the end of death and suffering from prostate cancer," says Jonathan W. Simons, MD, president and CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation. "The Prostate Cancer Foundation prizes our partnership with the Blue Jacket Fashion Show. It heightens awareness of prostate cancer, encourages every man to talk to his doctor about personal and family risks, prioritizes screening and stylishly encourages a healthier lifestyle."

To reserve a "seat" at the 2021 Blue Jacket Fashion Show, you can register at www.bigmarker.com/blue-jacket/2021. All attendees must register by Wednesday, February 3, 2021. After the event, the show will be available for viewing on Blue Jacket's YouTube channel.

Donations toward prostate cancer research can also be made on the Prostate Cancer Foundation's website at www.pcf.org/bluejacket.

FASHIONADO

How to have a luxurious lunch at Le Bilboquet

The crab and avocado salad from Le Bilboquet in Atlanta © Anna Lanfreschi

Here’s my secret for dining out during a pandemic:

1)     Look for an outside patio table you can reserve in advance.

2)     Go during a less popular time, like on a weeknight or for lunch.

This way, you can still enjoy some of Atlanta’s most popular restaurants without dealing with what feels like a superspreader event.

Case in point: I treated myself to a lovely lunch at Le Bilboquet the other day. It was such a nice little mid-week luxury to dine al fresco at this French restaurant in Buckhead!

I sat on their covered, heated outdoor patio, with tables well-spaced out for social distancing. Since I went for lunch during the week, it wasn’t crowded and I felt safe throughout the dining experience.

The service was impeccable, and the food was exquisite. It wasn’t a cheap or fast lunch, but I wasn’t looking for fast and cheap. I was in the mood for an extended lunch break that felt more extravagant than usual, and it was a great way to break up the monotony of a pandemic weekday. I would highly recommend it if you’re looking to do the same.

Here’s how to recreate this experience:

Reserve an outdoor table

You can select your preferred dining option – outdoor table, bar seating, or main dining room – on a reservation app like OpenTable. If that’s not available, you could always call the restaurant and ask to reserve a table on the patio.

Le Bilboquet is known for its beautiful Parisian-style open-air patio, and during the pandemic, they’ve expanded it and weatherproofed it. There are heaters and firepits for colder days, but do call ahead to make sure the patio is open, especially on days with possible inclement weather.

Do like the French and have wine with lunch

You don’t need my permission to order wine or a cocktail to kick off your lavish lunch – you do you. But I find that indulging in even just one glass of your favorite concoction elevates your lunch experience.

Order the soup du jour

A warm bowl of silky butternut squash soup on a chilly day to start your meal – what could be better!

Butternut squash soup, crab and avocado salad, and duck leg confit from Le Bilboquet © Anna Lanfreschi

Now, for your entrée…

Since you’re at a French restaurant, you can’t go wrong with the duck leg confit. The duck is fall-off-the-bone tender and served over roasted fingerling potatoes, celery root and chestnuts in a thyme jus.

If you’re more of an appetizer-as-entrée person, the crab and avocado salad at Le Bilboquet is a must! Smashed and seasoned avocado is topped with jumbo lump crab meat and julienned vegetables, and each bite is melt-in-your-mouth perfection.

The profiteroles for dessert; Le Bilboquet’s expanded outdoor patio © Anna Lanfreschi

Don’t skip dessert

Le Bilboquet’s dessert menu is a drool worthy list of classic French pastries, and it is truly a challenge to pick just one. But for me, the profiteroles always stand out. You can’t find this dessert at many other restaurants in Atlanta, and it is just so tasty: Chou pastry filled with vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate and almonds. So simple and delicious.

Le Bilboquet is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. It is located in the Shops of Buckhead and validates self-parking in the garage. The restaurant does have a business casual dress code.

Anna Lanfreschi is a digital content creator and strategist based in Atlanta. She posts about food and travel on her blog, AnnaFeasts, and on Instagram @AnnaFeasts. 

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